Thanks Nereus, never thought about that. What size aircraft can land at HH Airport? Can't see international flights being viable unless they fly in and out full, or almost full. Cost of immigration facilities won't be cheap either. It would take a lot of punters to make international airlines to run regular flights to HH but I could be wrong, i usually am says the wife. I suppose China would be one country that could try, but it's a big risk.

The military airport near Pattaya was built by the USAF during the VN war and has I think the longest strip in Asia. It has now been modernised after Swampy was closed by the Yellow shirt protest. For years the only International flights allowed in were there from Russia. The word was that they did not trust the Russian planes or pilots to land at Swampy.

Thanks Nereus, never thought about that. What size aircraft can land at HH Airport? Can't see international flights being viable unless they fly in and out full, or almost full. Cost of immigration facilities won't be cheap either. It would take a lot of punters to make international airlines to run regular flights to HH but I could be wrong, i usually am says the wife. I suppose China would be one country that could try, but it's a big risk.

The calculations for what size aircraft can land at any airport are both complicated and sometimes confusing.
The following links explain it in detail. Note that the hardstanding specifications are not always the same as the runway specs. The following is that which is used internationally, and the AIP will list local requirements, such as in this case, the exclusion zone around the Palace.

The runway was extended at great expense at the start of the century, with appropriate rake-offs I'm sure. Supposedly it would be able to take 747s. By way of inauguration THAI flew a 747 in and out, never to return. Not even 737 sized aircraft have ever been used. Hua Hin isn't big enough, nor far away enough from Bangkok, to need an international airport. IMHO. Maybe the airport could be used for park and ride.

Lion Air,Thai group i believe in partner ship actually flew and landed a 737 either 800/900 series into Hua Hin international airport,on the basis of a possible route,Medan/Hat Yai/Hua Hin.The flight landed,,,,,,,,,,,,,,took off,and not another word was mentioned .
The route obviously was not going to generate a regular passenger volume.

Thistle wrote:Lion Air,Thai group i believe in partner ship actually flew and landed a 737 either 800/900 series into Hua Hin international airport,on the basis of a possible route,Medan/Hat Yai/Hua Hin.The flight landed,,,,,,,,,,,,,,took off,and not another word was mentioned .
The route obviously was not going to generate a regular passenger volume.